| That's a pretty good question. For as long as I | | | | I had sold my car privately. The question is why I, |
| have been alive (and that's 34 years), I have | | | | and so many others, lose money to trade their |
| seen used car for sale ads at every corner. | | | | cars in. The answer to that question probably has |
| These days, it's one of the most popular online | | | | something to do with convenience. We don't want |
| classified genres, not to mention being very | | | | to deal with the hassle of a private sale. |
| popular with newspapers, magazines, radio and | | | | Is selling a car privately a hassle? Not anymore. |
| television. | | | | As I stated above, we already know about the |
| Let me start this off with a short story. I had an | | | | popularity of classifieds sections in newspapers |
| auto related experience a few months ago. | | | | and magazines, but with the advent of websites |
| In early January of this year, I was in the market | | | | devoted completely to online auto classifieds, |
| for a new car. Since I have driven a Honda | | | | things have gotten much easier. Gone are the |
| Accord as my two previous cars and a Honda | | | | days of having to wait until Monday morning to |
| Prelude as the one before that, I pretty much | | | | catch a customer service representative on the |
| knew what I was going to buy. I dabbled with the | | | | phone to place your ad. You can now access an |
| thought of getting a BMW 5 Series, but I wasn't | | | | auto classifieds website any time you want, from |
| ready for something so expensive. Maybe I'll get | | | | the comfort of your own home. You can write a |
| the Beamer next time. | | | | description, upload a photo, add any features you |
| On January 3, I visited my local Honda dealer and | | | | want and pay by credit card within a matter of |
| was quite ready to drive home in something new. | | | | minutes. Some websites even offer the entire |
| That day, I drove on the lot in a 1998 Honda | | | | service for free. Either way, your ad will be live |
| Accord V6 and was planning on driving off the lot | | | | when you are finished. It will also be accessible to |
| in a 2008 Honda Accord V6. Obviously, I was | | | | anyone from anywhere. |
| going to trade my car in. Before my trip to the | | | | Now that we have that cleared up, let's go over |
| dealer, I looked up the value of my 1998 Accord | | | | some of the benefits of selling your used car |
| on KBB. They valued the car at around $3,500. I | | | | online: |
| was slightly shocked, because I thought the car | | | | - Convenience. Auto classified websites offer "any |
| was worth more than that. I mean, this was my | | | | time, any place" type of convenience. |
| baby. This was the car I had taken such good | | | | - Reach. By place your car ads online, you will |
| care of over the years. But, if that is what the | | | | virtually be reaching buyers across the globe. Too |
| car was valued at, who was I to argue? | | | | many people? Don't worry; these websites have |
| Upon choosing the make and model of the | | | | tools to narrow down a potential buyer's search. |
| Accord I wanted to purchase, I entered | | | | - Account management. You can place, edit and |
| negotiations with the salesperson. I was told that | | | | delete your ad any time you wish with your own |
| the dealership would give me $1,500 to trade in | | | | private account management tool. |
| my 1998 Accord. As you could imagine, I got red | | | | - Popularity. These days, more and more buyers |
| in the face and threatened to walk out. They | | | | are turning to the web to search for their new |
| raised the price to $2,000, but I still argued for a | | | | rides. Many of them don't even (and never have) |
| bit. After a while, I realized they weren't going to | | | | read the newspaper. |
| budge from that price, so I caved. Sound familiar? | | | | - Multiple ads. Many auto classifieds websites allow |
| Has something like this ever happened to you? | | | | sellers to place multiple ads, oftentimes for a |
| Now, can you guess what everyone said to me | | | | discounted price, or for even no cost at all. |
| after I told them of my experience? I'm sure you | | | | - Help. Many websites have online tutorials or help |
| can. They said, "You know, you could've gotten a | | | | pages that assist you in selling your car. |
| heck of a lot more money for your car if you | | | | - Multiple venues. When you advertise your car on |
| had sold it yourself." Gee, really? Of course I | | | | one classified website, oftentimes your ad will |
| could've. I mean, everyone knows that dealers | | | | show on related websites as well. It's these "viral" |
| don't give you as much as the car is worth. Why | | | | relationships that get much more exposure for |
| is that? It's because of all the costs associated | | | | your ad. |
| with prepping a car to sell on their lot. If it's an | | | | As you can see, there are many benefits to |
| older car, they can't even sell it and it goes to | | | | placing your used car for sale online. Do the online |
| auction. To be honest, I am not even sure what | | | | ads work? Well, that first depends on the ad |
| the dealerships do with some of the cars they | | | | itself. If you write a strong description, show a |
| take as trade-ins. I have heard stories about | | | | good photo and offer a fair price, I wouldn't see |
| people getting $1 for the car they gave to the | | | | why not. If everything is lined up, I would think |
| dealer. | | | | you would have a successful sale within a matter |
| So, I'll admit that I could've made more money if | | | | of days or weeks. |